Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus type 2 are denied as the evidence does not establish a direct or secondary relationship to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to verify the claimed stressor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus (DMII), to include as due to herbicide agent exposure, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure and no in-service disease or injury related to DMII. The Board concluded that the current diagnosis is not linked to service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as it is etiologically linked to the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 30, 2023. The Board found that the Veteran is precluded from substantial gainful employment due to his functional limitations caused by multiple service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic renal cancer, which is service-connected. Accrued benefits for diabetes and hypertension are granted, but not for deep vein thrombosis, peripheral neuropathy, liver cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, or depression.

An effective date of June 10, 2016, and no earlier, for the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD is granted. Effective dates prior to October 18, 2017, are denied for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The rating reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss was not proper, and the 20 percent rating is restored effective January 10, 2022.,Entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for cerebrovascular accident (claimed as stroke) is remanded due to insufficient rationale in the medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, parkinsonism/Parkinson's disease, hypothyroidism, and hypertension have been granted. The service connection is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, valvular heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, fungal infection of the left toe, and bilateral hearing loss, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since May 11, 2021. The Board has granted a TDIU effective as of that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, gynecological disorder with infections due to pregnancy, back disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to obtain a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, carpal tunnel syndrome in the right hand/wrist, and carpal tunnel syndrome in the left hand/wrist due to inadequate medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of February 13, 2013, for service connection for various conditions related to Parkinson's disease.,However, the Board denied an earlier effective date prior to July 14, 2016, for loss of use of feet due to Parkinson's disease.

The Veteran's claim for beneficiary travel expenses associated with a non-VA medical appointment on October 28, 2022 was granted because the evidence showed he had attended his appointment and met the basic eligibility criteria for VA beneficiary travel benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus and service connection for diabetes, headache disorder, sleep apnea, GERD, and PTSD has been dismissed.,Service connection claims for headache disorder, sleep apnea, and PTSD have also been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetic nephropathy and hypertension, as well as the claim for TDIU due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ is directed to obtain any outstanding private medical records related to these conditions.

The Board has identified a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has ordered the AOJ to obtain private medical records from the Veteran's private physician. The appeal is remanded for this purpose.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss, both related to exposure to herbicide agents during service. Service connection for diabetic nephropathy is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for service-connected hypertension and diabetes mellitus, as well as earlier effective dates for these ratings and for the award of service connection for chronic renal disease.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 and diverticulosis have been granted service connection. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, deviated nasal septum, left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and colon polyps are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted with an effective date of November 30, 2021. The Board also determined that the Veteran met the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to August 31, 2016.